By the time most of us find out what causes dark under-eye circles — mainly genetics or bad lifestyle choices — the damage has been done. Now we’ve got to slather on vitamin K- and vitamin C-rich eye creams and makeup to diminish the unsightly color that lets everyone know we’re not getting enough sleep.

It’s hardly surprising that under-eye concealer remains a must-have. Even if you don’t wear a full face of cosmetics every day, a small swipe of this stuff disguises blemishes with little effort. Unfortunately, it can do the opposite when applied incorrectly. So if you need a refresher, here’s exactly how to do it the right way.

More: A Fall Makeup Guide for Every Zodiac Sign

Finding your shade

Like your foundation, color matching matters with under-eye concealer. When you utilize the wrong shade, you risk cakey-looking skin or, worse, emphasizing the darkness of your already dark circles.

According to celebrity makeup artist Min Min Ma (Hailee Steinfeld, Zosia Mamet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jared Leto), the best way to cancel out under-eye darkness is with a pink or warm-color base. This counterbalances that blue-gray darkness and also brightens the area, creating a glowy, highlighting effect.

Liquid vs. powder

Although powder concealer may be more appealing to those with oily skin, Ma actually finds cream or liquid formulas much easier to apply, blend and maintain, regardless of your skin type. It also looks the most natural.

“I never use powder concealer because it looks cakey as the powder gets into the fine lines and wrinkles. Instead, I recommend sticking to cream/liquid,” she says. “Cream-based for those with dry and premature skin. Since it’s less oily, liquid can be used for normal, oily and acne-prone skin types.”

More: This New Vegan-Friendly Brand Made Us Believe in CC Cream

Application

Once you’re ready to apply your under-eye concealer, start by applying your foundation first. “The foundation can camouflage a bit of under-eye darkness so you don’t have to use a lot of concealer,” says Ma. From there, you’ll need a small, flat synthetic brush to spread evenly under the eye.

“I do like using brushes for application because it makes the job easier and the application more smooth-looking. I like flat-shaped brushes best, such as Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage brush and Hourglass No 8 large concealer brush,” she says. “Note that blending is also important to the final result. Lightly tap the concealer with your fingertip to ‘set’ the work and remove excess concealer. If you’re using a nongreasy concealer, I would forgo setting powder altogether.”

If you need a starter list of formulas to try, Ma’s favorites are the Lilah B. Virtuous Veil concealer, Hourglass Hidden corrective concealer, Lancôme Effacernes waterproof protective under-eye concealer and Tom Ford waterproof concealer and foundation.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

While most of us view the spa or wellness retreat as a luxury, these add-ons are basically built into the routines of the rich and famous. Come awards season  — or just another day to be honest — the upside of influence and popularity is access to some of the swankiest digs the health and skin care industries have to offer.

More: 5 Celebrity Skin Care Experts You Should Be Following on Instagram

And though we’re all too familiar with a handful of A-list-approved aestheticians and dermatologists, such as Harold Lancer and Joanna Vargas, what really leaves us all starry-eyed and pining for a head-to-toe rubdown are the spas with luxurious facials and next-level skin treatments. Ahead are the most popular options.

Lasky Aesthetics & Laser Center

Location: Beverly Hills, California

In an interview with StyleCaster, former Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale revealed one of her beauty splurges includes frequent visits to this spa, where she gets treated to everything "from lasers to peels and LED light to muscle tightening" with facialist Molly Lucio.

Glam Boutique Spa

Location: Woodland Hills, California

In an interview with StyleCaster, 13 Reasons Why actor Ajiona Alexus credited Gabrielle Union for introducing her to the facials at this new West Coast beauty destination.

HigherDose

Location: New York, New York

In an interview with StyleCaster, blogger and Summer Fridays cofounder Marianna Hewitt said, "I am a big fan of infrared saunas, especially after a red-eye flight. When I’m in New York, one of the first things I do when I land is head to HigherDose at 11 Howard to unwind from a flight."

Shani Darden

Location: Los Angeles, California

A who's who of Hollywood — including Jessica Alba, Chrissy Teigen and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley — flock to this Tinseltown hideaway for custom facials.

Arcona Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles, California

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Regina King and Mandy Moore are just a few celebs who treat themselves to the Red Carpet Radiance facial just before the start of awards season.

Blackberry Farm

Location: Walland, Tennessee

In an interview with W magazine, model Lily Aldridge called this destination a must-visit because of its "beautiful spa and fabulous food."

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa

Location: Ojai, California

In an interview with W magazine, fashion designer and actor Nicole Richie said her favorite treatment at this luxury spa is the stretch therapy session.

Mii Amo

Location: Sedona, Arizona

In an interview with W magazine, actor-turned-wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow raved that this is the perfect getaway for a girls' trip.

"It’s incredible, I love it there so much. You can choose a spa menu for food, but we always end up with nachos and a giant glass of wine," she said.

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa

Location: San Diego, California

According to Elle Decor, this luxury resort and retreat is a favorite of Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts, who typically enjoy a day of exercising, "nutrition breaks," massages and facials.

Tomoko Japanese Spa

Location: Beverly Hills, California

According to InStyle, this "best-kept secret" is a favorite of Lea Michele and of Jessica Alba, who loves indulging in the Iro Iro massage.

Vanessa Hernandez Skincare

Location: Beverly Hills, California

According to Well + Good, A-list clients Jenna Dewan and Amber Valletta hit up the posh spa for customized skin assessments and next-level treatments, such as microneedling and radio frequency.

Joanna Vargas

Location: New York, New York

According to NYC Go, Jessica Alba and Julianne Moore are just a few famous clients who flock to this Bryant Park locale for Vargas's signature Triple Crown facial and LED light therapy treatments.

Tracie Martyn

Location: New York, New York

According to Racked, stars Kate Winslet, Emma Stone and Zoe Saldana stop by the famed facialist's spa and salon for pampering before and after major events.

Georgia Louise's Atelier

Location: New York, New York

According to Refinery29, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock credit this East Coast destination and the British aesthetician with keeping their skin glowy thanks to the famous "penis facial."

Ildi Pekar

Location: New York, New York

According to Allure, Pekar is one of the city's most sought-after skin care experts. Her organic body-firming treatments are also a favorite of models Miranda Kerr and Irina Shayk.

Christine Chin Spa

Location: New York, New York

According to Allure, Drew Barrymore, Gisele Bündchen and Rachel Weisz flock to this skin guru's spa when their pores need some major extracting and cleansing.

Kate Somerville

Location: Los Angeles, California

According to Variety, Anna Kendrick and Sam Smith are fans of the Ultimate Kale facial at this high-end skin clinic.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Meghan Markle is known for her beauty secrets, but her makeup artist’s hack to use Aquaphor as highlighter is one we weren’t expecting. In an interview with E! News, the now-Duchess of Sussex’s makeup artist Daniel Martin (yes — the MUA who was responsible for her drop-dead gorgeous wedding makeup in May) revealed that he uses the $5 drugstore balm to highlight, and here’s exactly how he does it.

Martin explained that he often uses skin care products to highlight. As for Aquaphor specifically, Martin would dab the product on the high points of the face of high clients, giving them an all-over glow. “A lot of my highlighting is done with skin care,” Martin said. “Before highlighters, you would do highlighting with Aquaphor. Aquaphor will give you that same texture, especially in a photo [when applied] on the high points of the face.”

More: The Princess Diana Fashion & Beauty Habits You Never Noticed

It makes sense Martin would use Aquaphor as highlight. As Honest Beauty’s creative color consultant, Martin also swears by the brand’s all-purpose Magic Beauty Balm, which he lays over his favorite highlight to intensify the effect. “I don’t use a highlighter product per se, but if I do, I’ll lay it down with Dior — they came out with incredible highlighting palette — and what I’ll do is I’ll take the Honest Beauty Balm and lay it on top of it,” Martin said. “It intensifies the highlight, but because of the texture of the magic balm it gives you that luminosity like you just applied moisturizer.”

More: 10 Royal Beauty & Fashion Traditions Meghan Markle Has Already Broken

Who knew Meghan’s royal glow came from the drugstore?

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Meghan Markle has been a member of the British royal family for some time now, so we thought it was as good a time as any to look back on her old outfits — and the looks we’ll never see her wear again now that she’s the Duchess of Sussex. (R.I.P., her ripped jeans.)

Meghan has worn some memorable looks since she became engaged to Prince Harry, but aside from a messy bun here and there, they all follow the same traditional royal trend: modest necklines, stockings, nothing too flashy. But Meghan's style wasn’t always like this. When she was an actor on Suits, Meghan wore tons of interesting clothes and beauty looks, from midriff-exposing dresses to gothic nail polish. And though we’ll likely never see her in anything similar again, it’s still fun to look back on her royal rules-breaking outfits that wouldn’t fly today.

Ripped jeans

Denim isn’t banned in the royal household, but it’s definitely not preferred. According to the BBC, men usually wear khakis if it’s a casual dress code, while women wear trousers or day dresses — though, if it’s an extra low-key occasion, such as out walking the dog, jeans are fine. Likewise, the royals’ clothes are supposed to be neat and put together, meaning that Meghan’s ripped jeans from the 2017 Invictus Games in September 2017 (before she and Harry were even engaged) wouldn’t fly today.

Dark nail polish

Though there’s nothing wrong with Meghan’s clothes in these two outfits, you likely won’t see her wearing the entire looks again — and that’s because of her nail polish. Under Queen Elizabeth II’s rule, the nails of royal women are to be kept clean and natural-looking, meaning Meghan will likely never wear non-nude nail polishes again. For the most part, the royals stick to nail polish colors such as pale pinks and taupes, so these pics are likely the last you’ll see her with such dark nail polish on her fingers.

Any outfit without pantyhose

Before she was a royal, Meghan showed her bare legs more often than not. Now, it’s the opposite. It’s a well-known rule that royal women are prohibited from showing their bare legs and must wear pantyhose. Meghan already broke the rule once when she didn’t wear stockings for her engagement announcement, but you likely won’t see her flaunting her legs like in the pictures below again.

Showing her midriff

Like sleeveless outfits and showing her shoulders (more on that later), outfits in which one’s midriff is showing is almost unheard of in the royal family. Most of their clothes are modest, knee-length with their skin covered up. So the chances Meghan will get a lot of use out of her crop tops and belly-baring outfits like the ones below are next to none.

Bright-colored outfits

Aside from a recent yellow dress, Meghan hasn’t worn many bright colors since becoming a royal, and there’s a reason. Bright colors are usually reserved for Queen Elizabeth II, who is often seen in coats and dresses in vibrant hues, such as lime green and baby blue. The queen often wears bright colors to differentiate herself from the public and stand out in a crowd. And though Meghan has worn at least one bright-colored outfit since she accepted her royal title, don’t expect her to ever wear something bright when she’s out with the queen.

Clothes with brand names on them

The royals are notoriously nonpartisan and are prohibited from voting. This year, at the 2018 BAFTA Awards, Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, created a stir when she wore green instead of black in support of Time’s Up. Because they are to remain nonpartisan (whether it’s politics or business), you won’t see a royal wearing name brands on their clothes. Likewise, you won’t see the royals participating in sponsored events, such as when Markle played in the DirecTV Beach Bowl wearing a DirecTV jersey in February 2014.

Wearing all black, especially in the daytime

Though black isn’t prohibited, it isn’t usually worn, especially in the daytime. According to Alexandra Messervy, a royal expert for InStyle, black clothing is usually not worn by royals.

“Generally it is thought that black is not usually worn unless in mourning, although Diana Princess of Wales did occasionally wear it for evening functions, and The Duchess of Cambridge has been known to do so,” Messervy said.

So far, Meghan has worn all black once for a daytime engagement. “I note that there was a bit of an outcry recently when Ms. Markle wore black for a daytime event,” Messervy said. Word is still out on whether she’ll do it again.

Sleeveless & off-the-shoulder

As some might remember, there was a huge bout of shoulder-shaming when Meghan wore a shoulders-baring dress for the queen’s birthday parade in June 2018. Since then, Meghan has kept her shoulders covered, though she is known to wear sleeveless outfits from time to time. If she becomes more traditional, expect her to cleanse her closet of both looks, as it isn’t known for royals to show so much skin. “They don’t usually wear sleeveless dresses and they usually wear clothes which are not too short in the hemline because of bending down and sitting in public,” Messervy told InStyle.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

For most of us, tattoos are a lifelong commitment that require a lot of serious thought. We take months — sometimes years — to mull over what we want and where we want it. Then comes the time when we find the perfect tattoo artist to turn our ideas into a reality. Still, despite the work and effort that goes into realizing our tattoo dreams, mistakes still happen. Sometimes, they’re small (like a missing comma), and sometimes, they’re huge (like a misspelling that totally changes the meaning of your tat). But what can you really do?

Even celebrities, from Emma Watson to Rihanna, have tattoo fails, bringing new meaning to the phrase “Stars, they’re just like us.” To remind you of the tattoo snafus celebrities have been through, we’ve rounded up eight stars whose tattoo fails we’re still cringing over. Check them out ahead.

Ashley Greene

Greene has a beautiful tattoo of the quote “Life’s a dream” in cursive on her foot — except the actor forgot the apostrophe, so her tattoo actually reads, “Lifes a dream.”

Britney Spears

When Spears got a Chinese symbol tattooed on her waist, she wanted it to be the word "mysterious," but instead, the one she got means “strange.” The singer later got a tattoo of a Kabbalah-inspired symbol on her neck that was supposed to say, “God,” but it was also misspelled. Fortunately, Spears had that one removed.

David Beckham

In 2000, Beckham wanted to honor his wife, Victoria, with a tattoo of her name in Hindi on his arm. Alas, the name was misspelled, and it reads, “Vihctoria” instead of “Victoria.”

Emma Watson

Watson wanted to make an impact when she showed up at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2018 with the phrase “Time’s Up” on her arm. But instead of it highlighting the movement or her work as one of Time’s Up’s founders, fans and the media focused on how the tattoo was missing an apostrophe, making it read, “Times Up.”

Hayden Panettiere

Panettiere has the phrase vivere senza rimpianti tattooed on her back. The phrase means “live without regrets” in Italian. However, there’s an extra I, but, in the true spirit of the tattoo, Panettiere isn’t too bummed about it. “It’s misspelled, whatever. I just put my own spin to it. Chances are I’ll probably get it fixed, but that’s why I love having it on my back because I don’t get bored of it,” she said according to HollywoodLife.

Jessie J

In honor of her song “Who You Are,” the singer tattooed the lyrics, “Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars," on her waist. Turns out, there was a misspelling. Instead of "lose," Jessie J got the word loose tattooed on her body. Her tattoo fail is the main reason fans will almost always see the singer in high-waisted clothes. “I did it ages ago and had ‘Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the star!’ tattooed on my side. Not long after I had it done, my mum said to me in tears, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but it is spelt wrong,'” Jessie J said on The Graham Norton Show. “It’s really big, which is awful. It’s the reason I always wear high-waisted stuff. I’m not going to put a spelling mistake that close to a camera!”

Rihanna

Rihanna has two misspelled tattoos. The first is the tattoo of the French words rebelle fleur on her neck. Because the adjective is in the front, the phrase actually translates to “flower rebel” instead of “rebel flower” like Rih wanted it to. But that’s not the only tattoo fail on Rihanna’s body. In 2009, the singer tattooed the word "forgiveness" in Sanskrit on her side, but that was also misspelled.

Harry Styles

In 2012, Styles tattooed his favorite lyrics from Temper Trap’s song “Sweet Disposition” on his arm. However, they were the wrong lyrics. Styles tattooed “won’t stop ’till we surrender,” while the actual lyrics are “won’t stop to surrender.” 

To make matters worse, Styles’s then-girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was the one who asked the band to write down the lyrics of the song to give to Styles. The lyrics were correct on paper, but somehow, they were lost in translation when Styles was at the tattoo shop, and he ended up with a typo. “Harry Styles has got the wrong lyrics tattooed—he’s got like a portion of the pre-chorus of ‘Sweet Disposition’… but it’s wrong,” Dougy Mandagi, one of the band’s members, told Pedestrian TV.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Investing in a beauty routine that’s truly devoid of harmful ingredients means your clean beauty education never ends. There’s always legislation regarding animal testing to familiarize yourself with, new small-batch brands to discover and, of course, knowing the actual difference between frequently used terms, such as "all-natural," "green" and "organic."

More: The Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Clean Beauty

And though this list can easily include a constantly evolving list of innovative, lesser-known ingredients, there’s also a not-so-short list of those with serious lasting power. And if you’re new to the clean beauty arena, getting familiar with these old faves is definitely a solid place to start. Ahead, with the help of aesthetician and Monastery founder Athena Hewett, is a handy guide for the beginning of your eco-friendly beauty transformation.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

As mood-altering and face-defining as a red lip can be, brows have a similar power to completely transform a face. But if you’ve been experiencing the forever struggle of sparse arches or you’ve found yourself in recovery mode from a grooming mishap, all is not lost. The good news is you can get them growing.

Ahead, two experts share what you should and shouldn’t do to help make your archenemies your most powerful face-framing ally.

More: The All-Time Best Products for Sparse Eyebrows

Get to the root of the matter

Brow expert Giselle Soto says internal factors like poor nutrition, alopecia, aging, hormones and stress can be equally responsible as more obvious reasons for sparse brows, like over-tweezing, which can cause the hair follicle to actually become inactive, and clogged pores from makeup and creams, which stop the hair follicle from opening up and inhibits growth.

It’ll take some time to figure out just what is holding you back from your best brows. Soto says if you’ve always had thin brows, there's a chance they won’t grow in any more than the current state they are in. However, once you get to the problem, it’s worth making a few adjustments to your diet and grooming routine to see if you notice any changes.

Give it time

Compared with the rest of the hair on our bodies, brows tend to need a bit more time and coaxing to sprout — so try to be patient. “Unfortunately, you can’t stimulate hair to grow any faster than your body naturally would. Eating a clean diet does increase your chances; however, eyebrow hair growth takes time,” says Soto.

If you’ve had a brow mishap, it can typically take six to eight weeks for your brows to fully grow back in. While everyone has different skin regeneration timing, this is the minimum amount of time you’ll need to see a difference in this particular area.

More: 5 Things I Learned After Refreshing My Microbladed Eyebrows

Try a serum

It’s going to be a labor of love, but Soto says if you’re willing to put in the time, the best way to get your arches growing is to commit to a brow serum. You can either mix one up yourself using equal parts castor, vitamin E and argan oils (1 teaspoon of each) or layering castor, rosemary or lavender essential oil on them everyday.

“Massage the oil into your eyebrows for two to three minutes before bed, leave it on overnight, and wash it off the next morning,” Soto explains. If you prefer a store-bought treatment, look for ingredients like peptides, keratin and biotin, which all help stimulate and boost and rebuild the hairs and follicles.

Be careful when shaping

Whether you’re a waxing devotee or prefer threading to tweezing, both Soto and Jaimineey Patel, head of training at Blink Brow Bar London, agree that the way you shape affects how your brows grow. “Waxing causes the brow hair to grow back at the slowest rate compared with all the other shaping methods,” says Soto, who notes that sugaring also has a similar growth effect as waxing. If you prefer threading or shaving, the hair will grow back quicker, but keep in mind that it will also fill in with a spiky edge, which will impact how it looks and how your fill-in (with products) turns out.

Patel says that over-plucking is a major factor in poor hair growth. She recommends avoiding tweezing altogether but says if you can’t resist, make sure you are removing only the hairs that are outside your brow shape.

Mind your skin care

Many exfoliants and peel-off masks are extremely harsh on the eyebrow region, which will cause hair to fall out. Patel also adds that any stringent products, like alcohol-based face treatments, can be dehydrating to the skin and should be avoided around the brow area. It can strip the natural moisture your brows need to flourish.

Camouflage the patches

While you wait out the six weeks before new hairs fill in, use a soft powder and highlighter to hide the skimpy spots. “The contrast between the light highlighter and dark brow powder will camouflage the sparse areas,” says Soto.

Patel recommends a brow gel enriched with mini microfibers to coat tiny baby brow hairs and give the illusion of thicker, fuller brows or a brow pen or pencil with a fine, nimble tip you can use to gently draw upward strokes through the brow to resemble brow hairs. When you’re ready to get growing or at least look like you are, give one of these brow boosters a go:

Blink Brow Bar London Brow Build Gel

Tiny little microfibers within a tinted gel base stick to sparse spots to make it look like your brows are a lot fuller and thicker than they really are.

Blink Brow Bar London Brow Build Gel, $28 at Net-a-Porter

RevitaLash RevitaBrow Advanced

While it’s not a brow-growth formula, this nourishing conditioner that has peptides, lipids, biotin and green tea extract does for compromised brows what skin care serums do for stressed-out skin.

RevitaBrow Advanced, $110 at RevitaLash

Benefit Brow Contour Pro

Click each of the four sides on this elementary school throwback pen to fill, shape, highlight or define.

Brow Contour Pro, $34 at Benefit

BrowFood Velvet 3D Brow Glide

Fill and go with a formula that’s a liquid pomade, thickening gel, styling wax and conditioner all in one. It’s really pigmented, so it’ll look like your brows are tinted, and once you swipe it on, it stays put for the day.

BrowFood Velvet 3D Brow Glide, $24 at LashFood

Joah Brow Down to Me precision brow pencil

Use the superfine tip to recreate the look of natural brow hairs and then the spoolie end to brush any strays into place.

Joah Brow Down to Me precision brow pencil, $9 at CVS

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

We’ve always wanted to know exactly how celebrities remain absolutely stunning on red carpets, with their striking ensembles and seemingly perfect smiles. There are flashing lights and high-quality cameras and a wide array of possible angles, but celebrity stylists have all the secret tips that go into orchestrating a flawless red carpet look. Here are a few tips most of us would never have thought of to try at home — try them during your next photo op.

More: Signature Celebrity Red Carpet Poses You Never Noticed 

Using white eye shadow to brighten teeth

This first hack is probably the most interesting considering it involves using makeup on your teeth — that’s right: makeup. on. your. teeth. Bruce Grayson, the head of makeup for the Academy Awards, told Bravo, “One trick that I have used on the red carpet is brushing on white cream eye shadow directly on teeth to brighten a smile. It whitens teeth, and it’s undetectable. It doesn’t stay on long, but long enough for that one important close-up red carpet photo!”  This trick seems to be a tad extra but completely understandable considering the importance of a red carpet.

Using toothpaste to clean scuffed shoes

Toothpaste is useful for more than just cleaning teeth. According to Marie Clarie’s senior fashion editor, Zanna Roberts Rassi, this household product is perfect for cleaning up scuffed shoes. Simply rub a sufficient amount of the paste, not gel, onto the scuff with a damp cloth and then wipe it off. The shoe should be completely clean and scuff-free. She demonstrated this quick tip on a pair of patent leather shoes on Good Morning America.

Using sweetener to clean stains

Another tip Rassi shared includes using artificial sweetener for a fresh stain. Place artificial sweetener immediately on the stain and let it absorb. Pat the clothing from the back so it pushes the stain out instead of in. By doing so, you won’t force the stain back into the clothing, and you are ready to go, stain-free.

Using soap to loosen stubborn zippers

Rassi also shared that she uses a bar of soap to coat the teeth of a stubborn zipper if it ever gets stuck. This way, it can ease the traction and allow it to zip up smoothly.

Using tape to fake larger cleavage

Kim Kardashian West was probably the first star to expose this red carpet secret that, frankly, many celebrities also use to fake a larger amount of cleavage. The hack requires taping the bust up in a way that flatters the open neckline without showing any extra tape. Stylist Janice Meredith revealed that the tape is usually trimmed in order to conceal the construction underneath. Before you start taping away, be sure to have some baby oil on hand so you can remove the tape without harming your skin.

Using shapewear to avoid creases

Not only is tape a must-have for red carpet looks, but so is layered shapewear. The more nylon, the more support. Meredith mentioned how celebs will layer their shapewear, like Spanx, to create a smooth, crease-free look. Some fabrics are less forgiving than others, and layering shapewear can help prevent any unwanted bumps or bubbles. Boohoo is a great place to get affordable shapewear for only $12.

Using eye shadow to fake a fuller hairline

Not everyone is born with a perfect hairline, not even celebrities. Celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan told Elle that she places eye shadow on the hairlines of stars such as Ashley Graham in order to create the illusion of a fuller hairline. The sparse areas are filled with an eye shadow color that matches the star’s actual hair color, creating a perfectly full hairline. This tip is super-useful for looks in which the hair is tied back or pulled up from the face.

Using shea butter & talc powder for more comfortable heels

When it comes to red carpets, celebrities are usually wearing uncomfortable designer shoes. Jenke Ahmed Tailly, who has worked with stars such as Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian West, told Vogue that instead of wearing insoles to ease discomfort — because they can take away from the look and might not even work — he recommends massaging the feet with shea butter and then applying a translucent talc powder. The massage will help loosen up the muscles while the powder will improve comfort.

Using a menthol spray for heels

Another way to ease discomfort would be to use a spray called Still Standing that Margot Robbie’s stylist, Kate Young, recommended. Still Standing is an eco-friendly, nonaerosol continuous spray that generates a mix of cooling menthol, natural anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. All you have to do is spray this product all over the feet and wait for it to dry. Please hold while we add a few cans to our shopping carts…

Using plastic bags or Aquaphor to slip into tight shoes

This last hack is perfect for those of you trying to slip on those stubborn shoes. Aquaphor is a great lubricant for difficult shoes that need a little extra help slipping into. And celebrity stylist Toni Ferrara said plastic bags are perfect for getting boots to slip on with ease. “For premieres where we didn’t wear gowns and a client wore knee-high boots, we used plastic bags to get her foot to fit into the boot—enough to walk the carpet and be photographed,” she said.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

The British royal family might seem like they live on another planet where the air is cleaner and the clothes are better-fitting, but in reality, they’re people like anyone else. And believe it or not, they even have wardrobe malfunctions — well, they would if it weren’t for their fashion and beauty hacks.

Have you ever wondered why Duchess Meghan (née Markle) of Sussex always looks so put-together? Or why the Duchess of Cambridge's (better known as Kate Middleton) skirt never flies up even in the strongest of breezes? Well, like everything, the royals have a hack for that. Ahead, we’ve collected the little-known fashion and beauty secrets the royals use to avoid wardrobe malfunctions. Find out how they keep calm and collected, even in nature’s most trying situations below.

Wearing bodysuits so skirts don’t fly up

To prevent their skirts from flying up in even the strongest winds, royal women such as Kate and Meghan often wear bodysuits underneath their dresses to create static. That way, when a gust of wind comes, their skirts will stick to their bodysuits and stay down.

“Often they wear body suits and clothes that actually increase static so it’s much hard for something to fly up,” Myka Meier, a royal etiquette expert, told The Sun. “So you have an undergarment that is almost like a body suit that is one tactic that is used.”

“Often they wear body suits and clothes that actually increase static so it’s much hard[er] for something to fly up,” Meier said. “So you have an undergarment that is almost like a body suit that is one tactic that is used. If you do not use weights or heavy weighted material, you make sure it will not fly up by wearing under garments that keep the fabrics connect[ed] to your body.”

Wearing shoes a size too big to avoid blisters

You might have noticed Meghan is often seen with shoes that are too big for her. Well, there’s a reason for that. According to fashion expert Harriet Davey, many celebrities often wear shoes a size or two sizes up to avoid blisters. Also, long periods of standing often cause the feet to swell, so the bigger shoes also work against that.

“Celebs often go a size up, or even two, in the shoe department when they’re at an event or on the red carpet and it’s for one reason we can all relate to — to avoid blisters,” Davey told The Sun. “There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes (we’ve all been there on a night out) and when celebs like Meghan are wearing heels for a long period of time their feet can often swell up.”

Weighing down skirts with small weights

Another trick royals use to prevent their skirts from flying is sewing small weights along the hem. Queen Elizabeth is especially a fan of this hack and prefers it over the bodysuit trick. She even sews weights on dresses that aren’t as light so they can hang more evenly. “I just pop a couple of weights into the hemline of her dresses and coats and it makes them hang beautifully. If there is a flap in the coat then I will sew in one on each side of the split to even it up,” Stewart Parvin, Queen Elizabeth’s courtier, told the Daily Mail. “And sometimes if she is wearing a lightweight chiffon skirt I will sew in a smaller lead weight the size of a pea or even a length of chain.”

Wearing stockings with rubber pads

As many royal traditionalists know, bare legs are frowned upon in royal circles, which is why many women wear sheer or nude stockings. But also, as many know, tights don’t provide a lot of friction in shoes and can often lead to feet slipping out of them. To prevent this, royals such as Kate purchase specific tights from John Lewis with rubber soles that adhere to the shoe and keep the feet from sliding around according to The Sun.

Using elastic bands to hold hats in place

The royals are known for their extravagant hats. But with their size and often offbeat shapes, it’s hard to keep them on, especially when they’re supposed to be worn at off-kilter angles. So the royals came up with a solution: elastic. According to Jill Courtemanche, a custom hatmaker, royals often wear elastic in the same color as their hair to keep their hats from falling off. “Preferably the elastic should be the same color as the wearer’s hair and is worn under the hair at the back, resting below the bump on the back of the head,” Courtemanche told Royal Hats.

Wearing low buns to avoid dents

Meghan gets a lot of flak for her messy buns, but there might be a practical reason behind them. Byrdie U.K. explained that the Duchess of Sussex’s habit of wearing low buns might be to avoid dents and creases that would be created by ponytails or top knots. The messy bun allows Meghan more freedom when styling her naturally curly hair differently at night, so she doesn’t have to wash it again.

“With a full schedule of day and night events, there can’t be much time for Meghan to perform a full hair wash and restyle in between,” Byrdie U.K. reported. “So, unlike a hair-denting ponytail or root-ruffling topknot, a low bun is like a form of damage control. Markle can wear one all day and then quickly unwind it — letting her loose waves fall beyond her shoulders, ready for the evening’s function.”

Wearing hairnets to keep updos in place

Not only are hairnets traditional, but they provide a practical purpose to a royal’s look. The cheap accessory, which is a favorite of Kate’s, is often worn in a color similar to the hair and allows the royals to wear tight, neat updos without having to worry about them falling apart.

Using “nude” nail polish to hide chipped nails

It’s a royal tradition for members to wear natural-looking nail polish colors and avoid bright shades, such as red or yellow. But there might be a reason behind that too. A manicure that matches one’s skin tone makes it harder to tell if a royal’s nails are chipped or not. And though it’s not a foolproof solution, chipped nails with natural-looking polish definitely look better than if the polish were neon.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Rebel Wilson has been in the spotlight for more than a decade, but it was only a couple of years ago when she hired Elizabeth Stewart (the stylist behind Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and other stars) that designers started to dress her. Before that, Wilson was wearing Adidas tracksuits to events or shopping for red-carpet dresses at department stores, where the sizes were more inclusive, though not by much.

“In the beginning, even though I was an actress and I was on red carpets, you’d find your dress still at Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s in the very-limited-at-the-time plus-size division,” Wilson tells StyleCaster. “It’s great those stores now have a lot more options. But still, it’s really only 10 percent of the clothes.”

Wilson’s “harrowing” relationship with shopping dates back to her teens, when she struggled to find clothes that fit — despite being a size 16 to 18, the average size for women in the United States. “It was like hell. It was so embarrassing,” Wilson says. “At that time, and especially in Australia, they didn’t even have female jeans sizes in that size, so you’d have to buy men’s Levis. That’s really bad.”

Wilson’s history with shopping is one of the reasons she created her size-14-and-up clothing line, Rebel Wilson x Angels, in 2017. The line, which is sold at retailers like Nordstrom and Dia&Co., recently launched its second collection, a 34-item holiday collection available in sizes 0X to 3X. “When I used to go shopping with my mum, it would always be a harrowing experience where I would end up crying, and I would hate shopping,” Wilson says. “Things you thought looked cool didn’t fit when you tried them on. It makes you feel gross and excluded or like fashion isn’t for you. With Rebels x Angels, I want people to feel included.”

More: Why Model Candice Huffine Is Done Apologizing for Her Body

But for Wilson, expanding to more sizes wasn’t enough. She wanted to design clothes she and other plus-size women would wear, which is why most of her designs are body-con — to combat the misconception that plus-size women want to hide their bodies or are ashamed of them. “I’m someone who likes clothes that are called body-con, which means it goes to the curve of your body, and I think they look so much more flattering, so I don’t really want to hide any part,” Wilson said. “You want to celebrate your body. There’s a misconception that all plus-size women are ashamed of their body or are ashamed of certain parts of their body.”

As for whether Wilson is still struggling to find designers to dress her, we’ll let her answer that question herself. “Givenchy is creating a custom outfit for something next week, and they’re the best fashion house in the world. So I’ve really come a long way,” Wilson said.

More: How Curvy Model Alexandra Thomas Prioritizes Self-Care Over Scrolling

Still, she loves shopping at department stores for the Pretty Woman moments she didn’t have growing up. Armed with a better understanding of her body and a mission to promote size inclusivity, Wilson has a far different experience with shopping now than she did when she was younger. It’s fun and most definitely for her. “The other day, I was filming some reshoots on my movie, Isn’t It Romantic. I was like, ‘Let’s just go to Saks Fifth Avenue and do a shopping spree,’” Wilson says. “I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I was like, ‘Yeah! Let’s do this!’ Now, because I know more and I know what looks good on me, I’m a lot more comfortable in those environments.”

She adds, “Everyone can have style. It doesn’t matter what size you are. You don’t have to wait until you lose weight to have style. You can have style today.”

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

What's better than free candy on Halloween? Our opinion may be unpopular, but we'd say a full rundown of Sephora's Beauty Insider Holiday 2018 Sale, including the sale's end date, suffices. The mecca of all things hair, skin and makeup has already launched most of its holiday offerings, but the fun has quite literally just begun. Here's what you need to know about the annual sale whether you're a VIB Rouge member or still working your way up the Insider ranks.

More: The 7 Features You’re Not Using Enough of at Sephora

For starters, the sale dates are different according to your status. The entire Beauty Insider program, which is free to join, is tiered, so your rewards are according to how much you spend. The more you spend, the better the discounts — make sense?

Once you spend over $350 in a year, you gain VIB status, and for purchases that total over $1,000, you get to be a VIB Rouge, the highest rank of them all.

As revealed in a post from the popular Instagram account TrendMood1, those with a VIB Rouge stamp will have exclusive sale access (20 percent off purchases online and in-store) Nov. 2 through 5 with the code ROUGEBONUS.

Next up are VIB members, who will have also have 20 percent off their purchases online and in-store the weekend of Nov. 9 through 12 with the code VIBBONUS. And finally, basic-level Insiders will get 15 percent off their purchases the weekend of Nov. 16 through 19 with the code BIBONUS.

The best part of this entire extravaganza is that there's still time (the entire sale wraps up on Nov. 19) to dissect Sephora's website and start bookmarking what products you plan to purchase... as long as they don't sell out first. Good luck!

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

By definition, Aquaphor is a healing ointment designed to heal minor cuts and cracked skin. But that's far from its only use. Though most of us know the cult-followed petroleum jelly as a lip balm, Aquaphor has tons of other uses, as discovered by the hacks of celebrities such as Hailey Baldwin, Emily Ratajkowski and Sofia Richie.

More: Clever Ways Celebrities Have Made Their Clothes Multifunctional

Aquaphor isn't just an ointment or a lip balm. It's an all-purpose product in its truest form and can be used for everything from highlighter to eye shadow to keeping dark circles at bay. Ahead, we've collected the most unexpected ways celebrities use Aquaphor in their beauty routines. Check out how you can incorporate the multipurpose product below.

Zendaya: Use it as highlighter

 Zendaya considers Aquaphor as the "magic step" in her beauty routine. But the actor doesn't use the product to moisturize. Instead, she puts it on over her makeup as highlighter. In a video on her YouTube channel, Zendaya revealed she uses Aquaphor for a natural-looking highlight. The step is easy: After she finishes her makeup, Zendaya takes some Aquaphor and dabs it on her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. Warning: She doesn't advise the hack for those with oily skin. “It’s like sweat, but it’s not,” she said. “If you tend to get a shiny nose, don’t do this.” Fun fact: now-Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's makeup artist is also known to use this hack.

Sofia Richie: Use it as under-eye cream

To prevent crow's feet, under-eye circles and eye bags, Richie uses a dab of Aquaphor under her eyes each night as an eye cream. The model revealed her secret in an interview with E! News in which she said she uses the hack as a preventative measure against wrinkles. She might be 20, but she's thinking ahead. Because of its high glycerin content, the hack isn't advised for those prone to acne. “I sleep with it under my eyes because I heard it prevents bags. I’m just a freak about bags and wrinkles,” Richie said.

Selena Gomez: Use it to make cream eye shadow

Selena Gomez's makeup artist, Hung Vanngo, has a hack to transform powder eye shadow into cream eye shadow, and of course, it involves Aquaphor. In an interview with Huda Beauty, the makeup artist revealed he often mixes powder products — eye shadows, blushes, etc. — with Aquaphor to make them a creamy consistency. The hack also increases the pigment and makes the product more hydrating. “My best and only makeup trick is mixing powder eyeshadow with Aquaphor to create a cream shadow,” he said. “You can also do this with a powder blush to create a cream blush.”

Michelle Williams: Use it to exfoliate

For a soft, pillowy pout, Williams uses Aquaphor and a hot towel to exfoliate her lips. The actor's makeup artist, Angela Levin, revealed the hack in an interview with Today. The routine begins by using a warm washcloth to slough away dead skin before immediately moisturizing them with a combination of Aquaphor, Clarins lip oil and Dr. Hauschka's Lip Balm. “We try to take a hot washcloth and lay it on the lips and wipe the lips to take away the dead skin. You have to be very gentle. I use a combination of Aquaphor and the Clarins lip oil. Dr. Hauschka, I put on her as well,” Levin said.

Hailey Baldwin: Use it to shape eyebrows

Baldwin might be a supermodel, but she isn't above Aquaphor's drugstore appeal. In an interview with InStyle, Baldwin revealed she uses the product not only to moisturize her lips, but to also shape and condition her eyebrows. "I swear by Aquaphor. I use it everywhere like as a lip conditioner and on my eyebrows," she said. "If I was stuck somewhere and I needed to look presentable and had zero makeup, I would put a little bit on as a highlighter and on my lips. It’s a good multipurpose product."

The model talked about the hack again in an interview with Teen Vogue in which she also revealed she sometimes uses Aquaphor to condition her lashes before she sleeps. “You can use it on your skin, and lip balm, eyebrows,” Baldwin said. "I don’t particularly use it on my skin as an everyday thing, but always on my eyebrows and lips. I put Aquaphor or Vaseline on my brows before I go to bed, and you can use it on your lashes too if you’re careful.”

Emily Ratajkowski: Use it to define lipstick

To amp up the color of her lipstick, Ratajkowski mixes Aquaphor with her favorite lipstick. The trick not only increases the pigment but also helps to define Ratajkowski's "really pale" lips. "Then I put Aquaphor on my lips, or I might mix it with Charlotte’s Bond Girl lipstick so there’s some definition. I have really pale lips; people always think I’m wearing nude lipstick," Ratajkowski told The New York Times.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

We'll get straight to the point: Urban Decay's Black Friday 2018 sale is not like other sales. It's a 10-day long bonanza, featuring shifting site-wide deals and heavily discounted favorites. The bounty is plentiful, and the harvesting begins on Thanksgiving Day — fitting because the brand's newly dropped Cherry collection makes us drool.

Cherries are currently trending in a way that must cause pineapples deep contempt. Between Tom Ford's naughtily named Lost Cherry fragrance ($320 at Sephora) and Urban Decay's scarlet-hued Cherry palette ($49 at Urban Decay), the small fruit is having an upscale beauty moment. Cherries are more unexpected than apples for fall and generally way less played out than pineapples. But forget my produce manifesto; what matters is this stunning Black Friday blowout.

Urban Decay revealed its 10 days of deals to our sister site StyleCaster so we could guide you through this emotional journey. Step one: become an Urban Decay Beauty Junkie. It's free to sign up, and loyalty members rack up points on all purchases, which they can later redeem for swag. In the case of Black Friday, Beauty Junkies receive additional discounts, so it's a no-brainer. After you've signed up, commit this page to memory.

We're kidding. That would be weird. Check back every day from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 for a refresher on the daily deal, and try to budget your cash accordingly. The cherries are rooting for you.

Nov. 22 – 24

Coming out hot, Urban Decay's first Black Friday deal begins Thanksgiving Day and ends Saturday, Nov. 24. All customers will score 20 percent off online purchases and free shipping, while Beauty Junkies will snag 25 percent off (with some restrictions). This is your chance to try out any product you've been curious about but too shy to commit to or snag the hot new releases.

Nov. 25

We're calling this deal Basic Saturday, but we don't mean any insult. With 50 percent off Naked Skin Concealers ($14.50, was $29, at Urban Decay), All Nighter Concealers ($14.50, was $29, at Urban Decay) and pro makeup Brushes ($7.50 – $29.50, were $15 – $59, at Urban Decay), you can stock up on basics you'll reach for everyday. Who doesn't need a luxe brush and damn good concealer?

Nov. 26

Cyber Monday is your one and only opportunity to buy the best-selling Naked Heat palette ($27, was $54, at Urban Decay) at 50 percent off. Bookmark this day.

Nov. 27

While other sales are cooling off, Urban Decay is coming for your cash with 50 percent off select Vice lipsticks ($9, was $18, at Urban Decay). Pretty much everyone stans this highly rated formula, including Ruby Rose. Also, it's $9 Urban Decay lipstick.

The Naked Petite Heat palette ($14.50, was $29, at Urban Decay), the pocket version of Monday's deal, is 50 percent off today. So if you couldn't spring for the full-size, here's your shot at the more compact counterpart.

Nov. 29

For those partial to palettes, it doesn't get much better than today. The half-off Lightbeam palette ($12, as $24, at Urban Decay), the Moondust palette ($24, was $49, Urban Decay) and the Naked Skin Shapeshifter palette ($22, was $45, at Urban Decay) will fly off the shelves.

Nov. 30

If you have any lingering cash at this juncture, Friday's deals will surely finish you: $10 stocking stuffers and a gift with your purchase ($50 minimum). Make like the savvy Secret Santa you've always known you could be, and score gifts people actually want.

Dec. 1

December opens with the close of Urban Decay's 10-day mega-sale. Whether you've managed a modicum of restraint or just can't resist a bargain, the half-off Naked Smoky palette ($27, was $54, at Urban Decay) is here to console you.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.